The Texas Governor Rick Perry endorsed former rival Newt Gingrich as he
dropped out of the US Republican race for the presidential nomination.

Governor Perry told supporters in South Carolina, the conservative state where he had hoped to revive his campaign in Saturday's Republican presidential primary, that there no "viable path forward" for him in Republican race

"I've always believed the mission is greater than the man. As I have contemplated the future of this campaign, I have come to the conclusion that there is no viable path forward for me in this 2012 campaign," he said, as he endorsed his former rival Newt Gingrich.

"I believe Newt is a conservative visionary who can transform our country.

"We've had our differences, which campaigns will inevitably have. And Newt is not perfect. But who among us is?" he said.

Mr Perry entered the race in August and briefly was at the front of the pack of Republican candidates, but a series of gaffes, lackluster debate performances and controversial statements during the campaign undermined his standing in polls.

He was ridiculed after a major debate stumble in November when he could not remember one of the three government agencies that he had repeatedly said he would eliminate if elected president.